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AC Stop Leak product for Prius?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by ZitterZap, Mar 8, 2011.

  1. ZitterZap

    ZitterZap Member

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    Can anyone tell which air conditioning Stop Leak product is safe to use with the Prius?
    I know that the compressor needs a non conductive oil so I am being little careful in my selection.
     
  2. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

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    How fast is the leak?
     
  3. ZitterZap

    ZitterZap Member

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    Put in a can of freon R134a 7 days ago. Driving to work today I noticed that the AC has lost a bit of coldness. Although it is not blowing totally hot and is still working. It is not super chill.
     
  4. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    How do you know that the system is not over-charged with R134a?
     
  5. ZitterZap

    ZitterZap Member

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    My Mechanic put the R134a in. He had the gauge which showed him the the freon was low.
     
  6. koolingit

    koolingit Member

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    You're looking to buy a mechanic in a can.

    It's not going to work and it could do some expensive damage.

    Find the leak, fix it and get a qualified mechanic to evacuate and charge the system with the right amount of R134a and oil (if required).

    It will cost more but you'll be ahead in the long run.
     
    1 person likes this.
  7. ZitterZap

    ZitterZap Member

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    Yup I am thinking of doing that. I don't think stop leak will work as this doesn't look like a minor leak.
     
  8. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    It usually will cost more to patch, repatch, rerepatch, instead of just doing it right the first time!!!
     
  9. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    I took a chance in 2005 with my 2004 Prius when it developed a slow freon leak. The dealer wanted $1200 for a new condenser coil (said it had a stone hit it, no warranty) plus labor. My corner gas station put in some stop leak (I'll try to find out which brand, but that was almost 6 years ago) and some freon. The AC still works today. :)

    If it messes up the compressor, there is always a salvaged AC system for less than $1200; check prices at http://www.autobeyours.com

    JeffD
     
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  10. ZitterZap

    ZitterZap Member

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    I had the exact same problem. They showed me the leak on the condensor with the green dye coming out. The independent shop I gave for checking it out quoted me $660 and the dealership quoted me $850 for installing a new condensor. They will need to take the radiator out for that. I was tempted to try the stop leak but I think the freon leak would have been too fast compared to its recommendation (less than a week).
    I decided to go with the independent shop. They have a good reputation in our area.

    How slow/fast was your leak?
    Is there a way to protect the Prius condenser from stones?

    I cannot afford to shut the front grill down. It gets really hot in houston. I was thinking about a small screen to protect it but keeping the air flow at the same time. Did anyone do a cool DIY for it?
     
  11. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    My leak was slow as it worked n the summer and then slowly lost freon over the winter. A coarse screen in front of the lower portion of the coil should suffice to protect it from stones. Tell the dealer that you need to use a special AC oil in our AC systems. It needs to have good electrical insulation properties (that is also the risk in using "Stop Leak"). See: http://priuschat.com/forums/attachm...c-oil-nd-oil-11-55-heater-air-conditioner.pdf

    JeffD
     
  12. ZitterZap

    ZitterZap Member

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    Yup already told the shop that. I think I made the right choice for my fast leak.

    Thanks for your input.
     
  13. lech auto air conditionin

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    I highly highly strongly advise not using stop leak. When it works right its good, but if the car ever in the future need the condenser removed for any other work , like lets say a body shop. Most leave the part off and do not plug the a/c lines for how ever many days they are working on the car or waiting for parts. The strong STOP LEAK products that seal leaks in condensers and evaporators harden ether when exposed to AIR and the other hardens when exposed to MOISTURE in the air. The worst one I have seen is one that turned in to JELLO. The others just turned the oil into vary thick oil like 150 VISCOSITY. There are about 6 different chemical makeups, two different hardening reactions one with moisture and one with air, then you have seal sweller that attack orings and seals to make them swell or become soft. Many of A/C recycle machines have been damage and warranty for the shop that ownes the machines is void for this product when found in it. I have a photo of a expansion valve with sealer that harden in the port of a expansion valve stopping flow of refrigerant and oil back to the compressor of coerce the compressor died. The customer did not want the expanse of flushing the whole system but did want a new compressor and expansion valve and receiver dryer. The shop installed the part but no warranty. Yes its nice when it works I can understand that, but when it dose not just throwing a used compressor, after another compressor is a different topic. in my photo album you can see many other problem with prius compressors caused by people and so called repair shops.
     
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  14. vertex

    vertex Active Member

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    There are different types of sealers. Interdynamics LDS-1 swells rubber but does not clog holes. If you have an o-ring leak, this may help. If it is a leaking tube there are types that will gum them up, but I would be leary of them. I might be tempted to try it only if the AC system/car was near the end of its life, and the repair bill would exceed the value of the car. LDS-1 seems to be OK for Hybrids but you should confirm this before trying it.
     
    Prius Pete likes this.
  15. LiZaC

    LiZaC New Member

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    My leak takes about 3.5 weeks to feel warm again. Driver side warmer than passenger. Guy I bought from insists that stop leak will eventually stop permanently. Which product should I be using?
     
  16. lech auto air conditionin

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    I’ve been wanting to experiment with TracerLine Products stop leak for Prius.

    Google it look up Traceline Products

    search their product category and you’ll see they now have a stop leak product I haven’t read all the details but I believe I glanced over it and see it said electric motor safe.

    i’ve never been fond of such a Products in the past

    but for people who have a Prius that’s 10 or 15 years old we’re replacing the evaporator equals the value of the car that starts becoming a tipping point of keeping or selling the car.
    So I’m giving into the notion whether or not I want to recommend this product or not.

    most automotive technicians who owns shops and own very expensive equipment don’t want any stop leak type product in there 10,000 or 15,000 or $20,000 AC recovery machine

    I personally don’t care because my equipment does not get harmed or damaged in any way buy any stop leak products for doing recoveries or recycle.

    If you do decide to purchase it and try it on your car keep us posted because I’m all ears and I would like to know